SADR CITY

Lectures

Public Presentations and Lectures

Zoriah has begun to devote a portion of each year to lecturing and presenting to universities, institutions and at political events. For universities, a typical itinerary consists of two days of presentations to multiple departments followed by a public, multi-departmental lecture. The presentations can be tailored in length and subject matter to each department and the multidepartmental lecture currently consist of a thirty minute slideshow showcasing recent work from Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, the Asian Earthquake and the Tsunami. The lecture touches on many subjects including the art of visual storytelling, the current state of the media and my own thoughts on documenting life in conflict.
Lectures can be tailored to the need of each individual organization, university or event.

Support Independent Journalism

DONATE!

Each photo story that I bring to the world costs literally thousands of dollars to produce. While transportation to and from remote locations eats up the majority of my budget, I must also pay for food, accommodation, insurance and equipment such as body armor, cameras, lenses, photo storage and equipment maintenance costs.
-
These photo stories depend on your support and funding. Without your donations these projects will live only in my dreams and not in reality, where the world can see them and be affected by them. If you enjoy seeing this work and believe in supporting truly independent photojournalism, please support it.
-
The power of the still image to teach, affect and inspire change is truly amazing and people like you make it all possible. Every dollar counts!
-
You can choose to make a one time donation, or set up recurring monthly payments. If you have not considered recurring monthly payments, these are a great way to fund ongoing projects without putting a strain on your pocketbook.
-
Because documentary photography is my full time job, recurring payments provide a much needed monthly income and let me focus on the issues that are truly important, intead of what subjects will sell to the corporate media.
-
-
Secure donations can be made below with PayPal. If you are not comfortable with online payments, please contact us for an address to mail a money order or cashiers check to

A RETURN TO BAGHDAD ER

Available Workshops: Location Tailored to Interest

Mexico:

Fossil Fuel Impact. Document car culture and its effects on the environment in one of the worlds most polluted cites, Mexico City.

Israel and Palestine:

Compare and contrast life in Jerusalem and life in the West Bank city or Ramallah.

Indonesia:

Child Drug Addicts. Photograph the lives of children addicted to inhalants.

Travel and Underwater Photography. Students produce a travel story with two to five days being underwater photography instruction by Zoriah and the master divers at Ocean Connections PADI Dive Shop. *students without a scuba diving license will complete a three day licensing course durning the beginning of the workshop.

Laos:

Shoestring Travel. Students travel through Laos and produce a story geared to budget minded travelers and backpackers
- Brazil: Amazonian Deforestation. Work in the Amazon Basin documenting the environmental impact of clear cutting.

Japan:

Technology and The Modern World. Explore the role of technology in our lives in one of the most advanced cities on planet earth. *Japan workshops have higher tuitions and higher living costs.

Turkey:

The New Face of The Refugee Crisis. Live in an urban jungle pupulated by refugees from around the world while documenting their lives...and your own.

Philippines:

Poverty's Environmental Impact: Work in urban slums to show the impact of poverty on the ocean and environment.

Lebanon:

Palestinian Refugees. Spend time photographing the lives of Palestinian refugees living in camps around the country.

Nicaraqua:

Shanty Towns. Documenting life in extreme poverty.

China:

Modernizing an Ancient Culture. Document how modernization and progress effect an ancient culture in the amazing city of Shanghai.

India:

Beggars life. Spend one week documenting the life of homeless or "untouchable" man or woman.

Pakistan and Kashmir:

Working in Extreme Conditions. This workshop is designed to give higher-level students a chance to experience work under adverse conditions.

Vietnam

Comparing urban and rural poverty. Students spend half the workshop photographing in Saigon and the other half in Chau Doc or another small village.

Cambodia

AIDS Orphans - live in an orphanage and document the lives of one or more children.

Biography

Zoriah is an award-winning photojournalist whose work has been featured in some of the world’s most prestigious galleries, museums and publications. Zoriah's clients have included The BBC, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, ABC News, NPR, Focus and many others. With a background in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Aid, Zoriah specializes in documenting human crises in developing countries. His vitae not only lists photographic achievements and study, but also the in-depth training and experience necessary for working under extreme conditions in some of the world's harshest environments

Become a Fan

November 03, 2008

Goodbye George W. Bush!

There are things that U.S. soldiers are allowed to talk about with the press and others they are not. One of the things they are not allowed to voice is their political opinion, especially if it goes against their commander in chief. In the privacy of latrine stalls on military bases in Iraq and Kuwait, however, it is quite a different story. I did not see any pro-Bush writings in any of the hundreds of latrines I photographed.

Fake???: For those posting comments that I wrote these myself or or used Photoshop to paint these comments in...please, do you really think I have that much time on my hands?? I am posting a contact sheet below of a few other latrine images from Iraq and Kuwait...do you think I made these up too??

Comments

I'm not a fan of George Bush BUT every one of those "handwritings on the wall", except the last one, appear to have been written with the same black Sharpie pen and in the same handwriting. Are you sure your photojournalist didn't just have an idea and made it happen? Please give us something more credible. Your reading public is not stupid.

Thanks for publishing this piece, and thanks for sharing it WRH! I hate the Bushs, and they actually earned that hate.
As far as the material being legit, I may not be an expert...but the writing does not
appear to be by the same author (in the pictures). It also makes sense that maybe a black sharpie may be the only "color" available in supply at the camp...plus it doesn't help that the images are not in color. I could be wrong on this, as I indicated that I'm not an expert.

A quick glance at the photos and it may seem that it was all done by the same author just in different stalls.

However upon closer look (The H's, B's, Y's), there are clear distinctions that cannot be ignored.

By my count there are at least three distinctly different PRIMARY handwriting. I say at least because I am not an expert (moderate... studied a few years ago). And I say primary because the less relevant smaller and not quite in focus (secondary) are clearly different.

The pictures being in black and white are for artistic preference. Though they might have been easier to distinguish authors and writing styles, it sends a bigger picture being two-tone. Further, we are left to assume that only black Sharpies were used. Can you tell the difference between black and blue in a black and white environment?

That being said, we (I) do not know if these were all taken from one location (one base), or multiple locations. For the sake of argument it doesn't really matter.

Just sit back, and realize that our boys in uniform aren't stupid, they know what's really going on... Better than most of us.

Enough proof for me is the amount of people going AWOL!
It just doesn't make much sense to kill people who haven't done you any wrong, who's only crime against America is having to put up with a dictator your oil companies helped put into power, but he knew you were going to stab him in the back and takeover Iraq to get to Iran.

At least Obama can help make up for the crime of ethnic cleansing during Katrina and the governments hand in dumping cocaine into mainly Black communities back in the 80's.

Those images look so fake. The writing does look like it was mostly done by the same person, and looks like it was photoshopped with a certain kind of brush setting. While I agree with the messages, I don't agree with trickery such as this. Also I didn't know we allowed Latin King gang members to enlist (note the "ALK" in a crown in the second photo). For all we know this is some inner city public restroom.

BTW, the sarah_palin yahoo account password doesn't work, lol. Not like I expected it to though.

"...every one of those "handwritings on the wall", except the last one, appear to have been written with the same black Sharpie pen and in the same handwriting."

One never knows, do one. As a friend of mine wrote:

"Which reinforces my idea that conspiracy theorists and fanatic religious believers have the same kind of blind spots in their brains. I think the god spot, if such a place exists, has fired into a new analogue semiotics which replaces man driven conspiracy for the divine."

The second most ardent religious nut I know, a severely bipolar man who devotes himself almost entirely to the 'idee fixee' that the Bible can be proven true rationally, spends most of his time scouring early Aramic and Greek codices to this end.

Are we now reduced to handwriting analysis of writing on shithouse walls, and amateur alleged photoshop critiques, to determine whether or not we should believe in a thing (this fellow's set of posted photos) even though there is no way to prove or disprove the veracity of Zoriah's photos other than to have been in those stalls at the time those words were written?

Considering the nature of shithouse stall privacy and the pride of the average soldier, this seems as impossible as proving whether or not someone like a God wrote or inspired the writing of the Bible.

(The first most ardent religious nut I know is a full-blown paranoid schizophrenic (what his shrink calls "three deviations from the norm") who believes he has been given prophetic powers by God.

Why would he do that, have you seen the rest of his images ? Have you seen the series of Tattoos ? I suppose those are fake as well.

You people need to get the fuck off your computers and get outdoors and fucking DO SOMETHING !!!

If all you can do with your time is pathetically try to discredit Zoriah, by trying to say these things are fake, then you have WAYYYYY to much time on your hands. Get a life and shut the fuck up, jesus, this is worse than a small town knitting circle.

Actually i hate to tell you but alot of our men and women over there, while they may not feel we should have gone over there in the first place, now believe we need to stay there to finish the job. But it is because of media like this that is twisting things and turning them negative. nevermind the good that is being done there right?

It really is quite amazing the shit that people can come out with.. It's one of the reasons why i hold back alot when posting my own images online.. From reading some of the the above comments, i seriously underestimated the amount of fucking morons there actually is out there, people with nothing better to do than to scrutinize wall writings, to see if it's fake or not. Get outside and get yourselfs laid assholes, pay for it if you have too. Because if your life has come to this, something has gone fucking wrong..
Zoriah, your doing a fine job.. keep up the good work man..

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake. This is really sad, after countless formidable global contributions Even tough the earthquake happened 6 months ago we still need to give our support to the Haitian people. Please give to your favorite Haitian charity

I can't imagine all the stress and depression that a soldier have to control to keep themselves alive in war, and see all this messages wrote by soldiers in bathrooms, is incredible that with all this our boys still dying for nothing.

Also, Unfortunately, it is safely in the Green Zone to him, full of his financiers, friends and associates. Too bad he was not in the open, where you can really see his constitutents, Americans whose lives he so horribly affected.

Oh wow.. never thought of it this way.. hmm, you made me think there mate!! Quite quite interesting.. the more I thought about it, the more it made me feel as if there is something further to this.. hm mm really very interesting..
Round Rock Siding Contractors

Workshops

Support Independent Journalism

The important events and issues I cover aren't always the subjects that sell to corporate media. These human stories need your support and funding to be told. The cost of travel, food, accommodations, and equipment is substantial. Please donate what you can to help me tell these stories to the world.

Support/Donate!

Zoriah's Twitter Updates

One-time donation

:: ZORIAH'S :: PORTFOLIO

Testimonials

"A riveting, unflinching set of some of the most poignant photography I've ever come across." No. Nein

"In the great Magnum tradition!" David Lewis-Baker

"His commitment to photojournalism can not be denied. I am certain he will secure a place amongst some of our best." JR Photography

"I've seen many war photos and met a few war photographers, but Zoriah's work deeply touched me." Globe Visions

"Zoriah Miller, In looking through his materials on his website, no one could debate the fact that he is enormously talented as a photographer, there's no doubt about it. Photographs taken around the world, many in war-torn regions...extremely moving." Laura Ingraham on the Laura Ingraham Show

"It is a eye opener to view your work, it brings strong emotions when doing so. Your work reflects an other side of the world around us and beyond. Its a honour to be your contact and I will use it to find inspiration for myself.
Thanks for sharing these pictures with us."
Frits van Sambeek

"Your work has changed me. It`s such an interesting effect your work has. Amazing art, it also informs so specifically, precisely." Roberto Eiti

"Zoriah`s pictures keep me breathless. They are shocking and at the same time they have an attraction which makes me come back to look at them again and again. Zoriah`s work has my full respect. Chapeau!" T. Klick

"Your amazing photos take me away from my comfort zone, and I confess I need that. Thank you for being out there and show all of us what is going on beyond our comfortable lives. Please, be safe as much as possible." Itmelo

" Zoriah, your pictures bring out so many emotions in me, I'm at a loss for words. They are heart wrenching and thought provoking...thank you for sharing!" Roxy Millado-Duguay

The iraq night patrol series was one of the most frightening photo-series I've seen about war.
Zoriah pushed war photography in another dimension. You suddenly start appreciating your own life knowing that millions of
other souls don't even know how to survive the next night." Dan cinematographer/Berlin

"There's a deep meaning in every photo, you've been at the right time and place.
Some photos made me cry, and at the same time I was happy to see such a photostream ! It's one of a kind. Thank you so much for sharing.." Hanan Iaway

"Zoriah is a REAL photographer...Thank you Zoriah for showing us the truth." Bluto Blutarski

"Your work is beyond words. Almost to point of emotional breakpoint."
Chieska

"You have some outstanding work! I checked your site and I understand why you have won awards. You really cover your subject matter with an expert eye, very inspiring and eye opening. I will check back often!"
Dvdell Photo

"Incredible not just because they are excellent photographs but because they are frighteningly honest. I hope you continue to make these strong, thought provoking records and that you stay safe in what must be incredibly difficult situations, both physically and emotionally."
JimboTF

"It would be somewhat of an understatement to say I was impressed with your work. We obviously know how dangerous it is to be involved in that theater (Iraq.) I'm sure that every moment of every day is just on the verge of chaotic for what is that war (war?) if not the ultimate of chaos? And yet you have these moments where you pause to compose image of graphic quality equal to content.
Admire all you compositional skills but am especially taken by the wideangle work. Do your best to do so and know you're held in high esteem." Cyclops-Optic

"I have to confess, that I couldn't sleep properly after seeing your photos the first time. These images are still in my mind and won't let me go." Vic

"There is a great passion in every single shot and I’m very impressed, sad, shocked, touched, deeply moved, frightened and inspired in the same way.You are documenting a very important episode of history. Your pictures speak for themselves and your work is beyond words. Your work is not easy as it is difficult to photograph people in distress. However, it concerns us all and we shall not forget!" Victoria

"Into the very depths of my soul. I cannot begin to even sum up with words, the depths of how your images reach out to me.
It brings me down to earth and reminds me as to why I picked up the camera in the first place. Your works are truly inspiring. You're very privileged to have to see these places with your own eyes, observe and capture through your lens the true state of the world we live in. As for now, for me, it'll have to be through your eyes, your pictures and the stories they tell. Truly honored," Itzhar

"There is a hunger to know the truth about war and your accurate presentation of it is exemplary.
I don't believe it possible to be unmoved by your images. This is especially true for those of us who live in a very different world, essentially free from the suffering and carnage you portray. Thank you for your dedication and courage.
You are making and incredible contribution to world understanding, hopefully not at an extreme cost to yourself. War photography seems like a hard way to make a living on many levels. Living and breathing civilian trauma is not easy but it is more localized. You can get away from it by driving or moving to another location, but with war there is no escape. The reality is so harsh and overwhelmingly pervasive into all areas of life. Stay safe. Many will be following you." Phopper Nowlin

"Thanks, Zoriah, for your hard work and incredible vision, and for the inspiration your example lends to others who have put down the gun, or never carried one." eL Bz

"All I can say: 'It's very, very impressive.' Keep up the good work. The world must know!" Mulder Photography

"Oh my God! His work is very dramatic! Reporting reality in a way never before seen ...I am impressed." Primo Tacca Neto, Brazil

"Your images are so profound - they have so much depth and feeling attached to them. I have much admiration for those who are willing to risk their own safety in order to capture images such as the ones you do." Luke, UK

"After watching your pics... I´m absolutely tired. Exhausted. Sooooo much information inside them. One day, I will make pictures like yours, but it will take me three or four lives to learn to do it.
Not great but incredible work. Thanks for showing us all the way. Master." Jose Manuel, Spain

"I feel honored after I have seen your great work; one day maybe, with more time I hope I will also be able to take the picture I like, going to those place where a photographer contribute can be of a help to improve the quality of life of all those people suffering. Thank you again" Piero

"Your images work so well. One thing I would love you to photograph in an ideal world: The impeachment and sentencing of Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, George Bush, Paul Wolfowitz and team for international war crimes. Those pictures would make a fitting end to your middle east series. Keep doing your thing, you are making a difference." Dan

"All Wars are very bad and nobody wins...your photographs are very impressive. Congratulations!" Engin Gerçek

"Thank you. Your work is amazing, photojournalism is my most desired form of photography. The stories, emotions, and sights your photographs bring to their audience are moving, maddening, touching, frightening - all the things good photojournalism does. Rock on." Podolux

"Powerfoul work. It catches visually my attention, and after some pictures I was inmersed in the humanity, the pain, the fight it reflects. Thanks for sharing this work!" Alejocock

"You are an amazing photographer. I look forward to following your work." Professor Brian Morley, Ph.D

"Your work is absolutely amazing, I love it because it´s hard and beautiful at the same time, you have the most amazing eye, congratulations." Mirelle B

"I am often full of words, but tonight your photos have left me speechless. I cannot even begin to imagine the things you've seen. May God keep your heart as you bare your soul through your captures." Michelle

"Really, I can't stress how I admire your work. Your photos really move me. I like photography for its beauty, but how you embed meaning in your photos, is just MIND-BLOWING." Screaming Snapshots

"Your photos are incredible, for me photojournalism is the most important form of photography, risking your life to show the world real life is crucial." Colin

"Nothing makes me cry these days, too complicated to explain, but having just looked at your photos I am sobbing. I can honestly say they are most shocking and at the same time touching photos I have ever seen. You made me think not just of the subject matter but the situation, atmosphere and also how you felt observing and photographing. Thank you for sharing, truly moved." Anonymous

"Your photographs are incredible, powerful and touching. I admire that you have a background in humanitarian aid." Terence

"Congratulations for your work, your images give us a glampse about what war is about. Humiliation, pain, only for interests. You make this horrible thing seem human. Thank you." Rafael de Carvalho

"I find these kinds of life photos as heartbreaking as those which vulgarly show death and destruction. Such good capture, it tells a whole story..." Petit1ze

"Superb photojournalistic images you have in your gallery! Compels me to comment on almost each one. Let them speak for themselves because they really don't need comments. They yet deserve to be deeply appreciated for all their quality. Hope to see more of your fantastic work soon." Mario Proenca

"I've often tried to express this practice, but a photo is worth more than my words." W. Quatman

"I've always thought that photographs are a kind of self portrait of the photographer. I appreciate your eye and sensibility and the work you do to make the act of war real to the rest of us I mentioned your "eye," your heart is just as visible in your images." Jerry Downs Photographer

"Simply excelent! It's a great reportage of a difficult situation." Rancescamare • "Stunning!" Matteo de Mayda • "Deserves to take a well earned place in history in the company of Phillip Jones-Griffith, Don Mc Cullen, Larry Burrows and Robert Capa. The minimal presentation of his work is perfect...the viewer fills in the details, and the images linger stubbornly in the memory, to awake one from sleep in a cold sweat...these images cannot be taken in in one viewing...the viewer returns restlessly again and again, attempting to process the information...this is really happening. Iconic, compelling images of war by a true professional.... I take my hat off to him." Goddessofxanadu

"A chilling commentary on the madness of war, ALL WAR." Ronzig's Gallery

"Right up there with Robert Capa. Wonderful work, you should be with MAGNUM. You are showing all sides of the conflict." Old Rollei

"Haunting beyond words." Yarnahoy

"Hugely thought provoking work." Leah Franchetti

"What you are doing is so, so important. I cannot even contemplate what horror and pain you have seen. But see it we must.
True dedication and bravery is the only way to expose such inhumanity. Keep truth as your motto, and maybe this silly world we live in will someday wake up and treat people as living souls, not simply pieces of meat to be traded in worthless pointless conflicts. I salute you sir." Jim Bodownie

"Simply excellent! It's a great reportage of a difficult situation."Frances Camare

"I am awed by these images. Some rank among the best millitary images I've ever seen, and I've collected all the greats." Konsum Terra

"I am in awe. I really don't know what to say. I haven't been this affected since I saw Nachtweys work." Dude Crush

"It is a eye opener to view your work, it brings strong emotions when doing so. Your work reflects another side of the world around us and beyond. I will use it to find inspiration for myself. Thanks for sharing these pictures with us." Frits van Sambeek

"Amazing! difficult to stomach (I am very emotional)... but just brilliant and captivating. Thanks for sharing all your photos..."
Penelope Gan

"A photograph is like a symbol for all the frightening aspects of a disastrous war that brings so much suffering to so many innocent people on both sides.
Great, valuable, artful, high class photography that shows the true face of what is going on in Iraq after the "Holy Mission" was declared completed so long time ago.
I bow in respect of your great work."
Helmut Schadt